Date of Award
Spring 5-1-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
July 2026
College Granting Degree
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Terje Hill
Abstract
This thesis investigates the potential of renewable wave energy through the design, modeling, and optimization of a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) developed at Florida Atlantic University. To characterize the motion of the device under varying sea conditions, wave–structure interactions are analyzed in detail. Performance is evaluated through numerical wave field modeling using WEC-Sim, which enables the simulation of realistic ocean conditions and the estimation of energy that could be extracted at a selected deployment site. In addition to modeling, this study addresses practical engineering challenges associated with the device, with particular emphasis on hardware optimization to mitigate water ingress – a significant issue encountered in previous deployments. This work contributes to the development of a more efficient and robust wave energy conversion system. iii
Recommended Citation
Correa, Marcos Lopez, "WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER OPTIMIZATION: HARDWARE INTEGRATION, SYSTEM RELIABILITY, AND HYDRODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF AN OSCILLATING BODY WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY TREATMENT IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER" (2026). Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses. 48.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_honors/48